Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 10
Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
यदा सिसृक्षु: पुर आत्मन: परो रज: सृजत्येष पृथक् स्वमायया । सत्त्वं विचित्रासु रिरंसुरीश्वर: शयिष्यमाणस्तम ईरयत्यसौ ॥ १० ॥
yadā sisṛkṣuḥ pura ātmanaḥ paro rajaḥ sṛjaty eṣa pṛthak sva-māyayā sattvaṁ vicitrāsu riraṁsur īśvaraḥ śayiṣyamāṇas tama īrayaty asau
Wenn der Höchste Herr verschiedene Körper erschaffen will, erweckt Er durch Seine Māyā das rajo-guṇa und ordnet jeder jīva eine passende Gestalt zu. Dann tritt Er als Paramātmā in jeden Körper ein und lenkt: sattva zur Erhaltung, rajas zur Schöpfung und tamas zur Auflösung.
Although material nature is conducted by the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa — nature is not independent. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) :
FAQs
This verse explains that the Supreme Lord, by His own māyā, initiates creation by projecting rajas, sustains and diversifies experience through sattva, and brings dissolution by impelling tamas.
In Canto 7, Chapter 1, Śukadeva answers questions about the Lord’s impartiality and governance by showing how the Lord orchestrates cosmic functions through the guṇas without being bound by them.
Recognize how passion drives activity, goodness supports clarity and harmony, and ignorance leads to inertia; then cultivate sattva through disciplined living and devotion, remembering the Lord as the ultimate controller beyond all guṇas.